Food or beverage carrier and server



Aug. 10, 1965 s. FORMAN ETAL FOOD OR BEVERAGE CARRIER AND SERVER ,2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1965 R 5 m m H O O N T L W m s wT V T NM .M o FWMJ L sv flww d m Q Q 1955 s. FORMAN ETAL 3,199,720

FOOD 0R BEVERAGE CARRIER AND SERVER Filed Jan. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 501. 5:2 MAN F G. 3 SEYMOUR SLOYER 5 1:6. Mt; ML

ATi'fiZi/EYS United States Patent 3,199,729 F681) 01% BEVERAGE CAREER AND SERVER Sol Fornran, Brooldyn, and eymour Slayer, Lawrence, N.Y., assignors to Forman Family, Ind, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 4, 1%3, Ser. No. 249,504 12 Claims. (Cl. 229-103) This invention relates to portable devices which can be carried and have provision for holding a plurality of containers, such a glasses, bottles, bowls, etc., for serving food or beverages to different persons.

Carriers and servers heretofore provided were mainly of the wire type in which the containers were supported in an open wire configuration. While such devices are reasonably satisfactory, considerable care had to be exerted in the use of the devices in order to prevent spillage of the contents of the containers since, in the event of such spillage, the contents would fall on the furniture, rug or clothing of the person, because of the open configuration of the device.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a carrier and server for containers which obviates the above difficulties and which is constructed so that the device can be readily changed for use for other purposes.

Another object is generally to provide a carrier and server of improved construction.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of the invention in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings of an embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a carrier and server in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier and server;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the carrier and server;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 1, on a larger scale than FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. on a larger scale than FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the carrier and server comprises a tray 12 which provides a support for the bottoms of a plurality of containers or glasses (not shown) that are mounted in openings or compartments 14 (FIG. 1) formed by wire means 16 spaced above the tray. Means 16 comprises an outer wire frame 18, in the form of a rectangle. A pair of longitudinally spaced wire members 2% extends transversely of frame it: and are suitably secured at their respective outer ends to the adjacent sides 22 of the frame, as by brazing. Another wire member 24 extends longitudinally of the frame, approximately midway between the sides 22 thereof, and is suitably secured, at its respective ends, to the adjacent ends 26 of the frame, as by brazing. In this manner the end compartments 14a are formed.

Tray 12 is coextensive in length and width with wire means 16 and is removably secured to the wire means by a pair of longitudinally spaced wire holders 28. Each holder 23 has a part 3% which extends transversely of frame 18, about midway thereof, and is secured at its respective ends to the adjacent sides 22 of the frame, as by brazing to form, in conjunction with members 29 and 24, the inner comparti rents 141). A curved reflexed part 32 extends downwardly from each interconnection of part 3% and side 22 of the frame, outwardly of said sides, and lon itudinally thereof, and terminates in an Aug. 1%, 15

S-shaped hook 34 which releasably and resiliently holds the adjacent side edges of the tray, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. Preferably, the adjacent part of the side edge of the tray is provided with a semi-circular recess 36 into which the adjacent part of the hook fits for releasably engaging the tray. The recesses also provide convenient position locating means for the tray. The hook terminates in a part 33 which underlies the marginal side edge it) of the tray for supporting the latter.

It will be readily apparent from the above description and as illustrated by FIG. 1, that the tray can be easily disengaged from holders 28 by merely sliding the tray longitudinally of the holders and frame 18,. and in this manner the tray can be removed from the carrier and server if, and used by itself. The solid container supporting surface 41 of the tray may be attractively decorated, and the decorations can be observed through the open configuration of wire means in, when the tray is releasably secured to holders 28, as well as being visible when the tray is removed from the holders. Thus it is seen that the carrier and server of the present invention not only provides means by which spillage no longer is a problem but, in addition, permits other uses of such means, as for example to serve hors doeuvres.

A handle 42 may be positioned above wire means 13 for carrying the carrier and server. For this purpose, a wire member extends downwardly from each end of the handle and converge toward each other. Each member 3 has a lower outwardly curved part -56 which extends into space 48 formed between parts 3i of the holders 28, and are secured at their respective ends to the adjacent parts of the sides 22 of frame 18, as by brazing.

t will be understood that the wire parts of the invention are made of substantially stiff wire, for example wire of about inch in diameter, so that the carrier is rugged and yet is light in weight, and curved parts 32 of the holders have the necessary resilience to releasably and resiliently hold the sides of the tray. The compartment arrangement described above can be varied as desired or as required.

While we have shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims. It is to be observed that tray 12 provides a plate-like rigid member having a liquid-impervious surface 41 for supporting the food or beverage containers.

We claim:

1. A carrier and server for containers comprising, wire means having sides interconnected by ends and comprising means defining a plurality of openings through which may pass a plurality of said containers, respectively, a tray positioned below said wire means and spaced therefrom, said tray having side edges and end edges and a solid container supporting surface positioned below said openings for supporting the bottoms of said containers, and other wire means integral with the first mentioned wire means, extending downwardly and outwardly from the middle of opposite sides of said first mentioned wire means for holding said tray in said spaced position below said first mentioned wide means, said other wire means having a pair of longitudinally spaced parts positioned at each of opposite side edges of said tray and releasably engaging longitudinally spaced portions of the side edges =2 of the latter, whereby said tray is removabiy mounted below said first mentioned wire means for removal of said tray from the carrier and server.

2. A carrier and server for containers comprising, wire means having sides interconnected by ends and comprising means defining a plurality of openings through which may pass a plurality of said containers, respectively, a tray positioned below said wire means and spaced therefrom, Said tray having side edges and end edges and a solid container supporting surface positioned below said openings for supporting the bottoms of said containers, and other wire means integral with the first mentioned wire means, extending downwardly and outwardly from the middle of opposite sides of said first mentioned wire means for holding said tray in said spaced position below said first mentioned wide means, said other wire means 'havin a pair of longitudinally spaced hook ends parts positioned at each of opposite side edges of said tray and reieasably engaging longitudinally spaced portions of the side edges of the latter, whereby said tray is removably mounted below said first mentioned wire means for removal of said tray from the carrier and server.

3. A carrier and server for containers comprising, wire means having a plurality of compartments for a plurality of said containers, a tray positioned below said wire means and spaced therefrom, said tray having side edges and end edges and a solid container supporting surface positioned below said compartments for supporting the bottoms of said containers, and other wire means integral with the first mentioned wire means, extending downwardly and outwardly from the middle of opposite side edges of said first mentioned wire means for holding said tray in said spaced position below said first mentioned wire means, said tray having a pair of opposite side edges each provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses, said other wire means comprising a pair of wire members extending outwardly and downwardly from the middle of each side of said first mentioned wire means, each of said wire members terminating in a hook, said hooks of each 'pair of wire members being longitudinally spaced from each other and positioned in an adjacent one of said recesses for releasably holding said tray, whereby said tray is removably mounted below said first mentioned Wire means for removal of said tray from the carrier and server.

4. A carrier and server for containers comprising, first wire means having a plurality of compartments for a plurality of compartments for a plurality of said containers, a tray positioned below said wire means and spaced therefrom, said tray having side edges and end edges and a solid container supporting surface positioned below said compartments for supporting the bottoms of said containers, and other wire means integral with the first wire means, extending downwardly and outwardly from the middle of opposite side edges of said first mentioned wire means for holding said tray in said spaced position below said first mentioned Wire means, said tray having a pair of opposite side edges each provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses, said other wire means comprising a pair of wire members extending outwardly and downwardly from the middle of each side of said first mentioned wire means, each of said wire members terminating in a hook, said hooks of each pair of Wire members being longitudinally spaced from each other and positioned in an adjacent one of said recesses for releasably holding said tray, whereby said tray is removably mounted below said first mentioned wire means for removal of said tray from the carrier and server, a handle positioned above said first mentioned wire means and spaced therefrom, and third wire means extending downwardly from the opposite ends of said handle and secured to and integral with said first mentioned wire means for holding said handle in its spaced position above said first mentioned wire means.

5. A carrier and server for containers, comprising a plurality of substantially rigid wire members secured to each other and arranged to provide a plurality of compartment openings for a plurality of said containers, said wire members including a wire frame member having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending side members and a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending end members, a tray positioned below said frame member and spaced therefrom and being at least coextensive in length and Width with said frame member, said tray having a solid container supporting surface in confronting relation with said frame member and underlying said compartment openings, said tray having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side edges each provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses, a pair of resilient wire members extending outwardly and downwardly from and integrally formed with each of said side members of said frame member, each of said outwardly and downwardly extending wire members having a part which extends longitudinally of the adjacent side edge of said tray and terminates in an inwardly opening hook end which is releasably positioned in the adjacent recess of said tray, and each of said hook ends having a part which underlies the adjacent marginal side edge portion of said tray for releasably and resiliently holding said tray in said spaced position thereof below said frame member.

6. A carrier and server for containers, comprising a plurality of substantially rigid wire members secured to each other and arranged to provide a plurality of compartments openings for a pluraiity of said containers, said wire members including a wire frame member having a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending side members and a pair of longitudinally spaced laterally extending end members, a tray positioned below said frame member and spaced therefrom and being at least coextensive in length and width with said frame member, said tray having a solid container supporting surface in confronting relation with said frame member and underlying said compartment openings, said tray having a pair of longitudinally extending laterally spaced side edges each provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses, 21

, pair of resilient wire members extending outwardly and downwardly from and integrally formed with each of said side members of said frame member, each of said outwardly and downwardly extending wire'members having a part which extends longitudinally of the adjacent side edge of said tray and terminates in an inwardly opening hook end which is releasably positioned in the adjacent recess of said tray, each of said hook ends having a part which underlies the adjacent marginal side edge portion of said tray for releasably and resiliently holding said tray in said spaced position thereof below said frame member, and a handle positioned above said frame member and spaced therefrom, and means integral with said frame member, interconnecting said handle and said frame member for holding said handle in said spaced position thereof.

'7. A combination carrier and server comprising a horizontal frame having a pair of longitudinal side portions and a pair of end portions, a central longitudinal portion interconnecting said end portions and transverse portions interconnecting said side portions and crossing said central longitudinal portion, a pair of handle supporting means fixed to and integral with said longitudinal side portions and extending upwardly therefrom, a transverse handle supported by said handle supporting means and disposed above said frame, and a pair of tray supporting members fixed to and integral with each longitudinal side portion and comprising tray engaging spring arms extending downwardly therefrom and each terminating in a tray engaging portion, and a horizontal tray releasably received between and supported by said tray engaging portions and disposed below said frame.

3. The combination of claim 7, said tray supporting members comprising transverse portions crossing the central longitudinal portion and located centrally adjacent said vertical plane, and interconnecting the tray engaging arms on one side with the tray engaging arms on the other side, respectively, and said tray engaging arms being inclined downwardly and outwardly from said plane.

9. The combination of claim 8, lower portions of said handle supporting means being disposed between said interconnecting portions.

10. The combination of claim 7, said tray having notches to receive said tr-ay engaging portions.

11. The combination of claim 7, said frame, central longitudinal member, transverse members, handle supporting means and tray supporting members being made of metal wire welded together into a unit, and said tray engaging arms being resilient to facilitate engagement of said tray with said tray engaging portions.

12. The combination of claim 7, each tray engaging portion comprising an inwardly opening hook receiving an edge of the tray, and said hooks being disengageable from the tray by flexing said spring arms outwardly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 643,168 2/00 Snyder 294-33 1,063,826 6/13 Moyer 294-33 1,093,282 4/14 McCall 220-94 2,308,267 1/43 Cooper 220-95 2,33 3,757 11/43 Whitaker.

2,401,578 6/46 Miller 294-99 2,584,787 2/52 Castle 220- 2,597,407 5/52 Thompson 224-48 2,604,288 7/52 Koch 220-19 2,689,072 9/54 Dechar 224-48 2,905,502; 9/59 Brown 294-27 2,914,104 11/59 Jocelyn.

FOREIGN PATENTS 326,571 2/58 Switzerland.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARRIER AND SERVER FOR CONTAINERS COMPRISING, WIRE MEANS HAVING SIDES INTERCONNECTED BY ENDS AND COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THROUGH WHICH MAY PASS A PLURALITY OF SAID CONTAINERS, RESPECTIVELY, A TRAY POSITIONED BELOW SAID WIRE MEANS AND SPACED THEREFROM, SAID TRAY HAVING SIDE EDGES AND END EDGES AND A SOLID CONTAINER SUPPORTING SURFACE POSITIONED BELOW SAID OPEININGS FOR SUPPORTING THE BOTTOMS OF SAID CONTAINERS AND OTHER WIRE MEANS INTEGRAL WITH THE FIRST MENTIONED WIRE MEANS, EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE MIDDLE OF OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FIRST MENTIONED WIRE MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID TRAY IN SAID SPACED POSITION BELOW SAID FIRSZT MENTIONED WIDE MEANS, SAID OTHER WIRE MEANS HAVING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PARTS POSITIONED AT EACH OF OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID TRAY AND RELEASABLY ENGAGING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PORTIONS OF THE SIDE EDGES OF THE LATTER, WHEREBY SAID TRAY IS REMOVABLY MOUNTED BELOW SAID FIRST MENTIONED WIRE MEANS FOR REMOVAL OF SAID TRAY FROM THE CARRIER AND SERVER. 